Little School on the edge of the Tropics

A little school can be a busy place: like our little school in Mataranka. 

I know this, but over the holidays I seem to have forgotten just how crazy and how much fun, it really is.

Like today. 

The new principal was in Katherine, working on funding and general principal stuff. He had asked me to feed his dog, maybe take him for a walk,  he didn’t really ask me to take charge of the school. but.. 

The first thing I knew one of the teachers was asking if my computer was working.. it wasn’t.  The internet was down.  “Call the Help Line” I suggested.  And she did.  It seems the satellite was down. 

It is amazing what you can’t do without internet.. it cuts off our intranet as well.. no printing.  No “School of the Air”.. no curriculum access.. No Olympics.. there went my plan for the day. 

Then they arrived: ten year nine students from down south, looking for a cultural experience here in the outback.  I had arranged it sure, but I thought the new principal would be here to greet them.. settle them in.. for the week. 

It was my day to be on duty.. for the whole day.  My idea as well.. I thought Mondays would be great: get it out of the way at the start of the week.  But it is exhausting. And I had to show the group around the school.. welcome them.. figure out where they would sleep.. keys..

And the next thing I knew it was bell time.

But then the musicians arrived.  A family of four tour the Territory for the better part of a year, bringing music to our kids.  Together with the students, they write, record and make a video for a song.  The kids are on the front line for the whole process!  It is great! 

I have to figure out how the pre-schoolers, a recording group and ten year nines are all going to share one space.. but it works.

And it is time for the assembly, and of course, I take charge of that too.  We sing the anthem, raise the flag.. do the school song.  We set up news for the day.. all good. 

Then off to class.. with no internet.. visitors, and not one student absent!  


It was busy.. full of fun.  And at the end of it, I had a full busload to deliver back home. 

The new principal was back tonight, exhausted from his meetings in town. I remember why I didn’t apply for his job.. It is fun, yes, but there is no time to catch your breath!

I am on this silly diet, trying to make up for all my sins on the holiday: the ice-cream, the beer, the great food and I am tired tonight.  But I can’t blame it on jet lag: been home a week already! 

I can’t wait to get back to class tomorrow.  The Year nines can help.. the little ones get to continue working on their song.. we will get back to our unit on the Olympics as the internet is back up.

 

Yup.. nice to be back in the Territory.  I do love Australia!